Minnesota Browncoats!

POSTED BY: Channain
UPDATED: Sunday, February 15, 2004 07:32
VIEWED: 9544
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KNIBBLET

Friday, February 6, 2004 4:24 PM

I must reply in correction of the fishing net analogy and explain the two cities.

They are called the "Twin Cities". Yes, they are that, but it is a very disfunctional family. St. Paul is the older, classier and prettier sister. Minneapolis is the younger, flashier and slightly trashier city.

Both are pretty and both are fun dates but only the older sister could be taken back home to Mama.

Minneapolis, The City of Lakes, celebrates the short, furious summer with their Aquatennial.

What you have in Minneapolis is a fishing net of interlinked squares ... unfortunately, they're all one-way streets and they've given each one a name. To further complicate things, they've given each one a name that they've already given to another ... in fact, 2 or 3 others.

You can find yourself on the intersection of 1st and 3rd. So can three other fish. Are you on 1st Avenue or 1st Street? North, South, East West?

Top that off with rows and rows of bland glass and steel high-rises each possessing a complete lack of personality and style ... sheesh!

Minneapolis kept almost nothing of it's past. All of its old buildings were torn down to make way for the new. When they couldn't get permission to tear it down, "transients" mysteriously started fires which burned the questionable property to the ground.

The two exceptions being the Foshay Tower, a 25-floor white obelisque now buried in a canyon of glass and steel and The Target Corporation tower. It is a newer building which actually had someone interested in design work on it. It is topped with a 2-story light display that constantly changes color, it too is overshadowed by taller blander buildings)

I enjoy Mpls, but it doesn't hold a candle to St. Paul which celebrates Minnesota's true season, Winter. The Winter Carnival is the oldest public celebration in the United States. This is the 118th year. Enjoy our Ice Palace when you watch the NHL All-Star game this Sunday.

St. Paul is an interesting blend of curvy streets and a few well-placed landmarks that you cannot miss. They kept the old. Restored it and reuse it. We've added new into the mix. It's reassuring being able to look up from anywhere and see a very distinct building, be it the Landmark Center with it's green castle tower roof, or the Cathedral of St. Paul up on the hill with a dome that matches that of St. Peters in Rome. The Capital building's white marble and gold statues ... you always know EXACTLY where you are.

As for the skyways, St. Paul had the first one and you can still see it 9-floors off the ground connecting two buildings.

Minneapolis has the larger of the two systems.

Cleveland has a skyway system which connects all the hospitals in the Cleveland Clinic complex. Unfortunately, the neighborhood around the Cleveland Clinic has deteriorated in the past 70 years and now one of the finest hospitals in the world is in the middle of one of the worst slums imaginable.

The Cleveland Clinic skyway system is designed to keep patients, staff and visitors safe from murder and mayhem as they pass from one building to another.

Come visit us again.

CHANNAIN

Friday, February 6, 2004 5:32 PM

and thus, the rivalry has commenced.

Seriously, I like St. Paul's strong sense of history and the museums over there are AWESOME. Sadly, however, having spent most of my adult life on the Minneapolis side, I have not had the chance to truly appreciate the distinct flavor that St. Paul offers. I am also sadly inadequate to the task of finding my way around St. Paul, as my creative skills do extend to my internal GPS system. I've often spent a ridiculous amount of time going around corners, trying to find my way back to the freeway that will return me to Minneapolis where I belong.

On the other hand, I have a friend who says you haven't been anywhere unless you've turned around at least once.

BTW, there's a Scottish Ramble happening in Landmark Center February 14-15. I'll probably be there.

We have art so as not to die of truth ~ Neitzsche
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

KNIBBLET

Friday, February 6, 2004 5:43 PM

Scottish Ramble you say?

How will we know one another? We could get Jayne hats and look for our twin :)

I live about a mile from the X. I could walk down to the ramble or ... we could skip the haggis and have lunch at the Woodfire Grill.

CHANNAIN

Friday, February 6, 2004 6:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Knibblet:
I live about a mile from the X. I could walk down to the ramble or ... we could skip the haggis and have lunch at the Woodfire Grill.

Frankly, I'm the only Scot you'll meet who believes haggis *shudder* is completely unnecessary. It was invented because there was nothing else to eat, and now because nobody remembers that, it's a ruttin' tradition? please.

Lunch at the Woodfire Grill would be shiny! And since I know a browncoat will be in the vicinity, I'll be wearing my brown suede jacket. Sadly, I do not have a Jayne hat. Talked to my sister about it, but nothing's come of it yet.

We have art so as not to die of truth ~ Neitzsche
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

KNIBBLET

Friday, February 6, 2004 6:18 PM

I'll wear my brown suede coat - ignore the fur lining :)

I'm Clan Wallace and trust me, we know that Haggis is a crime and tradition is sometimes dumber than an Alliance guard placed on an outhouse.

DYAIRVATREE

Friday, February 6, 2004 6:36 PM

The skyway I remember walking was in Saint Paul. You people just don't get it do you no matter who has the most skyways Saint Paul or Minneapolis normal cities don't have any skyways any time ever.

You guys have lobbies of golden animals spiting water into fountains thats normal for you, thats not normal any place else, ever, for any reason. Normal places have grey carpeting in the lobby and you have to show I.D. to the front desk to get past security. Now thats normal no golden animals spitting water in to pools.

You see the sad thing is you think what goes on in the Twin Cities is normal. Well I'm here to tell you it's freakish. That does not go on in Chicago,Boston,New York City,or San Fransico. Thats normal in the Twin Cities just the Twin Cities and no where else.

Anyway you guys should capitalize on what you got. Anyway I'm proud to be from a place that spends that kind of time on it's interior spaces. I figure it's so cold most of the time you make the interior of places like skyscrapers ultra-nice since you have to spend so much time inside.

Now I've more than likely offened Minnesota folk but I'm just trying to say what you have is different you should tell the world and for crying out loud make some postcards!

JAHZARA

Friday, February 6, 2004 6:52 PM

Um, grew up in Minnesota. Moved to Louisiana when I was ten. Serves me right for complaining how dull Duluth was.

Wait. There's nothing that deserves the Deep South. I haven't talked in any theatres...

Anyway, sounds like y'all are having fun up there.

*sigh*

I miss snow. Or at least, looking at it.

KNIBBLET

Friday, February 6, 2004 6:55 PM

Tell you what, honey bunches. My email is knibblet@hotmail.com. Give me a line with your snail mail and I'll send you some photos :)

I moved the MN 14 years ago. I've lived all over the world and this is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.

In the novel I'm writing, I do make mention of the fact that Minnesotans are experts at creating inside gardens and warm spaces. I know what you're talking about :)

You're right about beauty. We love the outdoors in all seasons and Minnesota is gorgeous. Do come back. We love visitors.

CHANNAIN

Friday, February 6, 2004 8:47 PM

Oh good - another sensible Scot. Then again, the Scots have been sensible enough to take back our country as coersively as we can. So long as we can stop arguing about the how-tos long enough to get it done

I'm Ferguson, myself. Chances are pretty good I can be found at the Minnesota Coalition of Scottish Clans table, drinking an Iron Brew.

I make shortbread cookies that would make my grandmother cry - now THAT was a bright idea. A cookie that takes only 3 ingredients. Scottish frugalness at it's finest. Mine's made with brown sugar instead of white. I've been told by the MCSC that when the potluck list comes out for our quarterly meetings that wherever my name falls, I'm to bring shortbread or *else*

We have art so as not to die of truth ~ Neitzsche
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

MILORADELL

Friday, February 6, 2004 9:37 PM

Shiney! Is it just Minnesota, or is everyone part of some "fringe" type element? My husband is a member of the Royal Guard (Renaissance - we met there), one-time member of Clan Tartan, etc. Everyone I know is a member of some artistic/recreation type society - well, except for me - I just sew. Very cool!

As for how special we have it in this state - we know Oh boy do we know!

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